Labour Ministry to cease recruitment of expat workers: Jordan

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AMMAN — Labour Ministry Secretary-General Farouk Hadidi on Tuesday affirmed that the ministry is ceasing the recruitment of expatriate workers, with the exception of those working in the industrial and agricultural sectors and domestic workers.

In a statement to Al Rai, Hadidi noted that the sectors excluded from the effort are aligned with the local market's need for manpower.

The decision to stop recruiting expatriate workers is aimed at organising the local labour market and addressing its imbalances, which have led to the widespread unemployment of Jordanian workers in all industries and in all governorates, Hadidi stressed.

Employing expatriates is contingent on supply and demand, he added.

Decreasing unemployment rates among Jordanians requires maintaining training programmes in coordination with the private sector to enable Jordanian workers compete with other Arab and foreign workers, he said.

Highlighting the ministry’s role in organising the labour market, setting necessary regulations and providing job opportunities for Jordanians, Hadidi described employing Jordanians as a priority.

Hadidi stressed that the large presence of expatriate workers in the Jordanian labour market has harmed the balance and organisation of the market, decreased job opportunities for Jordanians and exacerbated unemployment.